Physician Provisional License Application

Fees are typically required from other entities that provide documents or services. 
This list is not all inclusive, but examples of entities that typically charge fees are:
 

• The Federation of State Medical Boards for the FCVS packet or exam transcripts;
• FCSA for a foreign education evaluation; and
• IdentoGo by IDEMIA for processing the criminal history check

Finally, the application fee does not cover any part of your initial registration after the license is issued.

The Federation Credentials Verification Service (FCVS) is a service created by the Federation of State Medical Boards to streamline the credentialing and licensing process. FCVS is not a requirement for Texas licensure and is in no way a guarantee of licensure or of an expedited application process in Texas.

FCVS will be of the greatest benefit to an applicant who is applying from a school that will not issue multiple sets of documents or will be applying to several other states in addition to Texas. The Federation of State Medical Boards collects information regarding an applicant's identity, medical education, postgraduate training, licensure examination history, ECFMG certification, and board action history. This information is verified by the FCVS and maintained as a primary source record of a physician's credentials. FCVS will send a standard portfolio to state boards, hospitals, managed care plans, or professional societies at the applicant's request.

Please note that the Texas Medical Board may require additional documentation in place of or in addition to the documentation provided within the FCVS packet. Please contact the Federation of State Medical Boards directly concerning service fees and processing times.

The requirements are the same for International Medical School Graduates (IMGs) and U.S. or Canadian medical school graduates except that:

• IMGs must demonstrate that they are either ABMS or BOS specialty board certified, have graduated from a medical school on our Substantial Equivalence list, or have graduated from a foreign medical education program that has been determined to be equivalent to a U.S. medical education by the Foreign Credentials Service of America (FCSA); and

• IMGs are required to have either two years of continuous progressive accredited training, TMB Board approved training, teaching under a Faculty Temporary License in Texas, or a combination. Practice under an unrestricted full license issued in the U.S. for at least five years without any disciplinary action in any state may also be accepted in lieu of two years of training previously outlined. 

For information concerning practice opportunities in rural Texas, please contact the State Office of Rural Health or the Southern Rural Access Program.

This number is assigned to you at the time you submitted your application for licensure. For physicians, it can be found online through LIST (Licensure Inquiry System of Texas). For all other applicants, it can be found in the email correspondence you received from the Board indicating the status of your application (be sure to check the subject line as well as the text of the email). If you are still unable to located your 6-digit Board issued ID number, please contact the Texas Medical Board Customer Service Department at (512) 305-7030 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CST or email Screen-CIC@tmb.state.tx.us for assistance.

Call (512) 305-7030 to reach a member of the TMB Call Center between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CST.

You must provide us with a statement that gives an explanation of your request and a copy of the legal document(s) that granted your name change, i.e. marriage license, divorce decree etc.

The social security number of an applicant for or holder of a license, certificate of registration, or other legal authorization issued by a licensing agency to practice in a specific occupation or profession that is provided to the licensing agency is confidential and is not subject to disclosure under the open records law.

Texas requires licensees to professionally use the name under which they are licensed by the Texas Medical Board. Using any other name may confuse or mislead the public and could be considered by the Board to be unprofessional conduct. A licensee who wishes to change his or her professional name must use the Application for Name Change.

No.  Changes in mailing or practice addresses can be updated through My TMB.

An application fee may be refunded under certain limited circumstances, however, other surcharges and fees assessed at the time of application are non-refundable.

If you are unable to obtain a certified copy of your transcript directly from the school you will have to prove that you have made "exhaustive attempts" to obtain it. Your file will have to be reviewed by our Executive Review Group before a determination of acceptability can be made. Please consult your licensing analyst AFTER you submit your application for details on proving "exhaustive attempts." Your licensing analyst may request a copy of your transcript.

Maybe. In order to be eligible for physician licensure in Texas you must prove that you have actively diagnosed or treated patients, have been participating in post-graduate training, or have been on the active teaching faculty of a medical school within the last three years preceding the date of your application. If you don't meet that requirement, the Executive Director may determine that certain conditions must be met before licensure can be granted.

You are required to register your license and complete our online physician profile.

All applicants for licensure are required to pass the Texas Medical Jurisprudence Examination.

There are two reasons your school might not be on the list: 1) the Texas Medical Board has never licensed a graduate of your school before; or 2) the Texas Medical Board more thoroughly investigates the education of graduates of your school. If your school is not listed the board may require additional documentation from you, your school, and some government entities in the country in which your school is located.

A foreign education evaluation is one tool the board uses in evaluating the medical education of a physician applicant who attended a medical school located outside the United States. The board accepts evaluations from the Foreign Credentials Service of America (FCSA). The cost of the evaluation is the responsibility of the applicant. Applicants can find the Form N request form on our website and must be sent directly to the Foreign Credentials Service of America.

Yes. If you have passed a licensing examination (FLEX, NBME, NBOME, USMLE, COMLEX, LMCC or a state board examination) acceptable by the board, you may apply for licensure.

Three, however, there are exceptions to this attempt limit.  Please see the Eligibility Checklist for details regarding exceptions.

We are legislatively mandated to process all physician licensure applications within an average of 51 days. The processing time clock begins when the applicant has submitted all initial requirements and the application has passed from the Pre-Licensure/Screening stage to the Licensing stage. A licensing analyst is assigned to process the application. Individual application processing time will vary according to the complexity of the application. Once the licensing analyst determines the application is complete, the applicant is scheduled for licensure. Currently staff issues licenses twice a month.

Applicants who fall into one of the following categories may be eligible for expedited handling:
1. Physician applicants who agree to practice in a medically underserved area, a health professional shortage area, or a rural area;
2. Physician applicants qualifying under HB1504, who have been fully licensed and actively practicing in another state for at least 5 years, with no disciplinary history or open investigations;
3. Physician applicants who are in active military service, whose spouse is in active military service, or who are military veterans.

No. A temporary license may only be issued after an applicant has met all requirements established by the state of Texas for permanent licensure. However, you may be eligible for a Visiting Physician Temporary Permit.